Advice to Students New to the Upper School at MVS
Greetings! The transition to the Upper School at the Miami Valley School presents many exciting opportunities to new and continuing students; however, as with many transitions, we recognize that students may also encounter challenges in adjusting. Besides simply moving from our Middle School or another school to the Upper School at MVS, for many, the expectations of our college preparatory program are intense, as the work becomes progressively more analytical and conceptual. It is important, therefore, for new students to recognize quickly the expectations that will be placed upon them, establish healthy and productive study habits to meet those expectations, gauge the time necessary to succeed, recognize the various support resources available to them, and employ responsible behaviors that will contribute to a purposeful, enjoyable experience during the first year of high school and in subsequent years. Here are a few helpful suggestions which, though by no means comprehensive, students and parents should be mindful of:
1. Get to know your Academic Advisor, Class Dean, and Head of Upper School. These adults will prove to be great advocates. The purpose of the Advisory Program is to facilitate communication between MVS and home in providing individual contact and support for each student. Advisory Groups meet at least once a month; Academic Advisors will schedule two formal parent conferences a year, and can be contacted by voice or e.mail as questions arise.
2. Ask lots of questions. If you need clarification on a topic or require assistance in determining a solution to a problem, ask your Academic Advisor, a teacher, peers, Class Dean, or Head of Upper School.
3. Be proactive. Seek out your teachers and your Academic Advisor for extra assistance, establishing a regular meeting time for support, should you need it. Approach teachers before you feel anxious, rather than enduring through a problem. Although your schedule may not align perfectly with that of a teacher's, faculty members are approachable and eager to meet with you. Should you require further academic support, the Class Dean may assign you to a study hall, monitored by a faculty member. For most students, though, “free” periods allow ample time for attaining extra help, though you need to be active in seeking and clarifying the help you need.
4. Go the extra distance. Homework and daily preparation for classes are important keys to succeeding in the Upper School; however, if you simply “do” your homework by cursory reading, writing, or quick review, you may encounter surprises. Completing your homework means following up on materials covered in class, actively reviewing class notes, outlining and taking notes on reading, and mapping out strategies and schedules for longer term assignments.
5. On average, ½ to ¾ of an hour’s worth of study is normal for each of your classes, with obvious variance to this rule. Two to four hours of homework an evening is realistic, although at “crunch times” you may have more. Remember to balance your desire to do well academically with the value of being involved in other MVS activities, as well as the importance of family time and the freedom to lead a “normal” teenage life.
6. Take time to review the many academic, extracurricular, athletic, and co-curricular offerings in the Upper School; get involved in at least one activity. Students who are involved in the MVS community tend to adjust more quickly.
7. While being with friends is an important facet of the school day, it is suggested early in the year that you establish good habits regarding the use of your time. The “free” periods that you have in your schedule are designed to encourage you in being independent and self-reliant. While we value the balance of freedom and responsibility here at MVS, much of your time during free periods should be used productively for studying, seeking help, or working on extracurricular activities. Students new to the Upper School (including freshmen) may be assigned to at least one proctored study hall after the Fall Trimester mid-term. Reserve some time to be with friends and relax, but make sure you apportion your time for appropriate school related work.
8. Don’t let your work pile up. If you find yourself falling behind, seek out your teacher or Academic Advisor right away to develop a strategy for correcting the problem. Do not wait until you feel overwhelmed to seek assistance.
9. Know that you are not alone. There is a network of support here for you (and your parents). This network includes fellow students, as well as teachers and administrators. We have a full-time counselor who can provide assistance and advice to students, as well as a skills specialist to help with academic support. Do not hesitate to approach the school counselor if you have concerns for yourself or your peers.
10. Don’t worry—everything becomes familiar fairly quickly here at MVS. Enjoy the newness of joining the upper school community. We all bring our individual talents to this culture of thinkers, learners, and citizens. We excited that you have joined us here in the Upper School at MVS!
On behalf of the students and faculty members, we look forward to formally welcoming you to the Upper School in the months to come.
With sincere regards,
Samuel Wagner, V
Head of Upper School
Friday, May 13, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Spring Mid-Terms, Bump-up Day, & Approach of Prom
Friday, 7 May 2010
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Even all varieties of May weather (cool temperatures, spots of sun, and occasional drizzle) cannot damper the spirits of MVS Grandparents Day and Spring Fling! It was wonderful to see so many MVS families (and in multi-generations!) as part of the day’s festivities.
This e.mail serves as notification that the comments, work habit marks, and grades illustrating your daughter or son’s Spring Trimester mid-term academic progress are now available via My Backpack. Mid-term comments for the Spring Trimester are required only for students achieving grades of “C-” or lower or effort marks of “3” and below. Since mid-terms provide a “snapshot” of a student’s academic performance, they should be considered accordingly. Time remains to attend to concerns mentioned up to this point; however, attentive preparation and follow-through are necessary in anticipation of the speedy approach of June. Consider it a good start-of-May resolution to conclude the 2011 academic year with appropriate academic vigor.
With the hopeful arrival of warmer weather, we continue to seek your assistance relating to matters of appropriate spring apparel, specifically regarding: ripped and torn clothing, shorts and skirt length, and overly revealing tops. As a quick guide, ripped clothing is not permitted, shorts and skirt must be longer than the extended fingers of a students hands at their sides, and shirts should cover a students’ shoulders and not be overly revealing. We appreciate your assistance (and good humor) in helping our students to be presentable and aware of their appearance.
Next Friday, 18 May is Bump-Up Day, providing the opportunity for current 8th grade students to attend upper school classes and further whet their appetites for life in the Upper School. The Freshman class will be bowling (with the 6th grade) off campus to allow room for the 8th grade to visit classes. The Freshman will return to campus in time to attend the class period before lunch.
Prom, hosted by the Junior class in honor of the Seniors, is Saturday, 21 May, followed by After Prom, hosted by the Parents Association. Following concerns raised by various constituencies in our school community, breathalyzers will likely be included in our monitoring efforts this year, as an additional safety precaution for our students and for peace of mind for parents. I will share further details in my accustomed “prom awareness letter.”
Although the last day of academic classes for seniors is Thursday, 2 June, seniors are required to attend Senior Seminar at MVS on Friday 3 June, during which a number of transition and graduation details will be addressed, including a formal graduation practice.
For Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors, Spring Trimester and final exams will be held 6 - 8 June. Academic Awards Evening, on Wednesday, 8 June at 7:00PM in the Lane Gymnasium, is an Upper School tradition not to be missed. In addition to faculty member presentations of departmental book awards, the Senior Class of 2011 will be acknowledged as a lead-up to their Graduation. Graduation occurs on Thursday, 9 June at 7:00PM at Dayton’s historic Victoria Theater. I hope to see you there!
I appreciate your support of and attention to the many events, activities, and initiatives at work in the Upper School. The early May edition of “Articles of Interest” will be posted soon on my MVS Blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/ As always, should you have a question, feel free to contact your child’s Academic Advisor, Grade-level Dean, classroom teachers, or me. Best wishes towards a refreshing and celebratory Mother’s Day.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Even all varieties of May weather (cool temperatures, spots of sun, and occasional drizzle) cannot damper the spirits of MVS Grandparents Day and Spring Fling! It was wonderful to see so many MVS families (and in multi-generations!) as part of the day’s festivities.
This e.mail serves as notification that the comments, work habit marks, and grades illustrating your daughter or son’s Spring Trimester mid-term academic progress are now available via My Backpack. Mid-term comments for the Spring Trimester are required only for students achieving grades of “C-” or lower or effort marks of “3” and below. Since mid-terms provide a “snapshot” of a student’s academic performance, they should be considered accordingly. Time remains to attend to concerns mentioned up to this point; however, attentive preparation and follow-through are necessary in anticipation of the speedy approach of June. Consider it a good start-of-May resolution to conclude the 2011 academic year with appropriate academic vigor.
With the hopeful arrival of warmer weather, we continue to seek your assistance relating to matters of appropriate spring apparel, specifically regarding: ripped and torn clothing, shorts and skirt length, and overly revealing tops. As a quick guide, ripped clothing is not permitted, shorts and skirt must be longer than the extended fingers of a students hands at their sides, and shirts should cover a students’ shoulders and not be overly revealing. We appreciate your assistance (and good humor) in helping our students to be presentable and aware of their appearance.
Next Friday, 18 May is Bump-Up Day, providing the opportunity for current 8th grade students to attend upper school classes and further whet their appetites for life in the Upper School. The Freshman class will be bowling (with the 6th grade) off campus to allow room for the 8th grade to visit classes. The Freshman will return to campus in time to attend the class period before lunch.
Prom, hosted by the Junior class in honor of the Seniors, is Saturday, 21 May, followed by After Prom, hosted by the Parents Association. Following concerns raised by various constituencies in our school community, breathalyzers will likely be included in our monitoring efforts this year, as an additional safety precaution for our students and for peace of mind for parents. I will share further details in my accustomed “prom awareness letter.”
Although the last day of academic classes for seniors is Thursday, 2 June, seniors are required to attend Senior Seminar at MVS on Friday 3 June, during which a number of transition and graduation details will be addressed, including a formal graduation practice.
For Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors, Spring Trimester and final exams will be held 6 - 8 June. Academic Awards Evening, on Wednesday, 8 June at 7:00PM in the Lane Gymnasium, is an Upper School tradition not to be missed. In addition to faculty member presentations of departmental book awards, the Senior Class of 2011 will be acknowledged as a lead-up to their Graduation. Graduation occurs on Thursday, 9 June at 7:00PM at Dayton’s historic Victoria Theater. I hope to see you there!
I appreciate your support of and attention to the many events, activities, and initiatives at work in the Upper School. The early May edition of “Articles of Interest” will be posted soon on my MVS Blog at: http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/ As always, should you have a question, feel free to contact your child’s Academic Advisor, Grade-level Dean, classroom teachers, or me. Best wishes towards a refreshing and celebratory Mother’s Day.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Mid-April: Parent Town Hall Meeting, 2011 Shared Summer Reading, Environmental Laboratory Groundbreaking
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
The grades and effort marks from Immersion are now available via My Backpack. It was great to see and speak with so many parents and guests at Immersion Open House last week. I know that our students appreciated the opportunity to recount their experiences from Immersion 2011. The Immersion Committee is now in the review stages in finalizing the program descriptions for Immersion 2012.
The town hall meeting for upper school parents is next Monday, 25 April beginning at 7:00PM in the Alumni Black Box Theater. Peter Benedict and I look forward to sharing details about the school-wide initiative on student character development. We will listen closely to feedback on current issues in this important area of adolescent development and outline our plan to develop a student Code of Conduct using professionally facilitated workshops, including faculty members and students. We seek your input before embarking on this important initiative for character and honor in our community.
I am thrilled to announce that the novel Peace, by Richard Bausch, is the selection for the 2011 Upper School Shared Summer Reading. Now entering our fifth year of selecting a common title for the entire upper school community (students, teachers, and parents), this year marks an exciting partnership between MVS and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Mr. Bausch, the recipient of the 2009 Award for Fiction, is returning to Dayton in September to announce the finalists for the 2011 Dayton Literary Peace Prizes, thus providing an opportunity to visit MVS, address upper school students and teachers, and visit classes. I am indebted to the work of Susan Strong and Stacey MacDonald for bringing this imagined partnership into reality!
In addition to the required Shared Summer Reading, members of the English Department have again compiled suggested reading lists for students (and families) providing recommendations to further enrich your summer reading choices. A copy of the 2011 list of suggested titles will be distributed during scheduling conferences this week; a PDF is also available on the documents section of the upper school homepage.
Open campus privileges, for seniors who have earned them, go into effect this week. Parents of seniors need to review and sign the permission form before individual privileges begin.
I hope to see you tomorrow morning at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Zorniger Environmental Laboratory. This new facility will provide exhilarating future opportunities for MVS student and curricular design. Imagine the growing possibilities!
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
The grades and effort marks from Immersion are now available via My Backpack. It was great to see and speak with so many parents and guests at Immersion Open House last week. I know that our students appreciated the opportunity to recount their experiences from Immersion 2011. The Immersion Committee is now in the review stages in finalizing the program descriptions for Immersion 2012.
The town hall meeting for upper school parents is next Monday, 25 April beginning at 7:00PM in the Alumni Black Box Theater. Peter Benedict and I look forward to sharing details about the school-wide initiative on student character development. We will listen closely to feedback on current issues in this important area of adolescent development and outline our plan to develop a student Code of Conduct using professionally facilitated workshops, including faculty members and students. We seek your input before embarking on this important initiative for character and honor in our community.
I am thrilled to announce that the novel Peace, by Richard Bausch, is the selection for the 2011 Upper School Shared Summer Reading. Now entering our fifth year of selecting a common title for the entire upper school community (students, teachers, and parents), this year marks an exciting partnership between MVS and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Mr. Bausch, the recipient of the 2009 Award for Fiction, is returning to Dayton in September to announce the finalists for the 2011 Dayton Literary Peace Prizes, thus providing an opportunity to visit MVS, address upper school students and teachers, and visit classes. I am indebted to the work of Susan Strong and Stacey MacDonald for bringing this imagined partnership into reality!
In addition to the required Shared Summer Reading, members of the English Department have again compiled suggested reading lists for students (and families) providing recommendations to further enrich your summer reading choices. A copy of the 2011 list of suggested titles will be distributed during scheduling conferences this week; a PDF is also available on the documents section of the upper school homepage.
Open campus privileges, for seniors who have earned them, go into effect this week. Parents of seniors need to review and sign the permission form before individual privileges begin.
I hope to see you tomorrow morning at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Zorniger Environmental Laboratory. This new facility will provide exhilarating future opportunities for MVS student and curricular design. Imagine the growing possibilities!
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, April 11, 2011
Early April: Immersion Open House, Student Traits of Character, Spring Advisory Scheduling Conferences
Monday, 11 April 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
We have had a busy and productive first week of the Spring Trimester. Here are some reminders of activities, events, and initiatives underway here in the Upper School.
Immersion Open House is this Wednesday, 13 April from 7:00-8:30PM in the Lane Gym and Lofino Atrium. Since Immersion represents the pinnacle of MVS’ commitment to experiential learning, please feel free to bring and invite neighbors, friends, and relatives to attend this signature MVS event, celebrating the student accomplishments and experiences from Immersion 2011.
Last week, the Student Government leaders and I facilitated a preliminary discussion (including students and teachers) on the topic of MVS student traits of character. This conversation will evolve into an MVS-wide conversation, seeking the involvement of many segments of the MVS community. I invite you to attend an evening forum for parents on Monday, 25 April beginning at 7:00PM in the Truslow Upper School Commons. Peter Benedict and I look forward to hearing your feedback, while also providing you with details about this exciting school-wide initiative. I look forward to seeing you there.
The Spring upper school Course Scheduling Day for grades 8-11, will occur Thursday (4:00 - 7:30PM) and Friday (8:00AM – 4:00PM), 21 and 22 April. An e.mail will be sent later today with the weblink for scheduling on-line a convenient time to meet with your child’s Academic Advisor to review and confirm her or his courses for the 2011-12 academic year. The traditional Bump-Up Day for the Class of 2015 (allowing for current 8th grade students to visit and experience upper school classes) will occur on Friday, 13 May. Details to follow.
We have had a number of student visitors shadowing students in the Upper School. If your daughter or son has a friend interested in learning more about MVS, including visiting and experiencing classes, please have them contact our Admissions Office to arrange for a school visit.
All upper school letters and reminders are also posted to my MVS Blog (http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/), where I invite your suggestions, comments, and continuing support. With the long-awaited arrival of April showers and warmer weather, the burgeoning of Spring, in all its grandeur, cannot be far behind. I look forward to seeing you in bleachers or on the sidelines at an MVS athletic event soon.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
We have had a busy and productive first week of the Spring Trimester. Here are some reminders of activities, events, and initiatives underway here in the Upper School.
Immersion Open House is this Wednesday, 13 April from 7:00-8:30PM in the Lane Gym and Lofino Atrium. Since Immersion represents the pinnacle of MVS’ commitment to experiential learning, please feel free to bring and invite neighbors, friends, and relatives to attend this signature MVS event, celebrating the student accomplishments and experiences from Immersion 2011.
Last week, the Student Government leaders and I facilitated a preliminary discussion (including students and teachers) on the topic of MVS student traits of character. This conversation will evolve into an MVS-wide conversation, seeking the involvement of many segments of the MVS community. I invite you to attend an evening forum for parents on Monday, 25 April beginning at 7:00PM in the Truslow Upper School Commons. Peter Benedict and I look forward to hearing your feedback, while also providing you with details about this exciting school-wide initiative. I look forward to seeing you there.
The Spring upper school Course Scheduling Day for grades 8-11, will occur Thursday (4:00 - 7:30PM) and Friday (8:00AM – 4:00PM), 21 and 22 April. An e.mail will be sent later today with the weblink for scheduling on-line a convenient time to meet with your child’s Academic Advisor to review and confirm her or his courses for the 2011-12 academic year. The traditional Bump-Up Day for the Class of 2015 (allowing for current 8th grade students to visit and experience upper school classes) will occur on Friday, 13 May. Details to follow.
We have had a number of student visitors shadowing students in the Upper School. If your daughter or son has a friend interested in learning more about MVS, including visiting and experiencing classes, please have them contact our Admissions Office to arrange for a school visit.
All upper school letters and reminders are also posted to my MVS Blog (http://wagnersmvsblog.blogspot.com/), where I invite your suggestions, comments, and continuing support. With the long-awaited arrival of April showers and warmer weather, the burgeoning of Spring, in all its grandeur, cannot be far behind. I look forward to seeing you in bleachers or on the sidelines at an MVS athletic event soon.
With sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The College Board: E.mail Breach of Security
NOTIFICATION FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD, posted on Saturday, 2 April, 11:04PM
We have been informed by Epsilon, the vendor that sends email to you on our behalf, that your e-mail address may have been exposed by unauthorized entry into their system.
Epsilon has assured us that the only information that may have been obtained was your first and last name and e-mail address. REST ASSURED THAT THIS VENDOR DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER MORE SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR CREDIT CARD DATA.
Please note, it is possible you may receive spam e-mail messages as a result. We want to urge you to be cautious when opening links or attachments from unknown third parties.
In keeping with standard security practices, the College Board will never ask you to provide or confirm any information, including credit card numbers, unless you are on a secure College Board site.
Epsilon has reported this incident to, and is working with, the appropriate authorities.
We regret this has taken place and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We take your privacy very seriously, and we will continue to work diligently to protect your personal information.
Sincerely,
The College Board
We have been informed by Epsilon, the vendor that sends email to you on our behalf, that your e-mail address may have been exposed by unauthorized entry into their system.
Epsilon has assured us that the only information that may have been obtained was your first and last name and e-mail address. REST ASSURED THAT THIS VENDOR DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER MORE SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR CREDIT CARD DATA.
Please note, it is possible you may receive spam e-mail messages as a result. We want to urge you to be cautious when opening links or attachments from unknown third parties.
In keeping with standard security practices, the College Board will never ask you to provide or confirm any information, including credit card numbers, unless you are on a secure College Board site.
Epsilon has reported this incident to, and is working with, the appropriate authorities.
We regret this has taken place and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We take your privacy very seriously, and we will continue to work diligently to protect your personal information.
Sincerely,
The College Board
Monday, March 28, 2011
Late March: Articles of Interest
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I hope the first week of Spring Break finds you healthy, well rested, and ready for the actual coming of Spring! Since recent weather has felt more like the return of winter, here is a fresh set of “Articles of Interest” to warm your intellect and contemplation as we enter the second week of Spring Break and welcome the promise of April.
This Sunday’s New York Times cover article Poisoned Web: A Girl’s Nude Photo & Altered Lives, Jan Hoffman reiterates many of the topics and concerns we discussed at the internet safety and awareness program back in the fall. When high-tech flirting turns explicit, repercussions can have serious and lasting implications.
In February’s Anniversary Issue of The New Yorker magazine, Malcolm Gladwell sets his sights on the foibles of the college ranking system. His article The Order of Things: What College Rankings Really Tells Us presents an intriguing, Gladwell-esque analysis of what data is used (and how it is weighted) in determining the annual U.S. News ranking of colleges.
And in further college-related reading, in the current edition of The Atlantic magazine, Caitlin Flanagan’s article, The Ivy Delusion, presents a number of topical issues affirming the importance of “fit and match” in the college selection process.
The current edition of Fast Company offers a comprehensive article on Google’s CEO Larry Page, including the challenges ahead in the increasingly competitive internet landscape.
And from the ‘stranger than fiction’ section, two recent articles from the New York Times address the recent antics of Charlie Sheen and why audiences (and the media) simply cannot look away: When Your Life Becomes a Verb (from 4 March), and Sheen-ology (from 6 March).
Happy reading and with sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
I hope the first week of Spring Break finds you healthy, well rested, and ready for the actual coming of Spring! Since recent weather has felt more like the return of winter, here is a fresh set of “Articles of Interest” to warm your intellect and contemplation as we enter the second week of Spring Break and welcome the promise of April.
This Sunday’s New York Times cover article Poisoned Web: A Girl’s Nude Photo & Altered Lives, Jan Hoffman reiterates many of the topics and concerns we discussed at the internet safety and awareness program back in the fall. When high-tech flirting turns explicit, repercussions can have serious and lasting implications.
In February’s Anniversary Issue of The New Yorker magazine, Malcolm Gladwell sets his sights on the foibles of the college ranking system. His article The Order of Things: What College Rankings Really Tells Us presents an intriguing, Gladwell-esque analysis of what data is used (and how it is weighted) in determining the annual U.S. News ranking of colleges.
And in further college-related reading, in the current edition of The Atlantic magazine, Caitlin Flanagan’s article, The Ivy Delusion, presents a number of topical issues affirming the importance of “fit and match” in the college selection process.
The current edition of Fast Company offers a comprehensive article on Google’s CEO Larry Page, including the challenges ahead in the increasingly competitive internet landscape.
And from the ‘stranger than fiction’ section, two recent articles from the New York Times address the recent antics of Charlie Sheen and why audiences (and the media) simply cannot look away: When Your Life Becomes a Verb (from 4 March), and Sheen-ology (from 6 March).
Happy reading and with sincere regards,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Monday, March 7, 2011
Early March: Articles of Interest
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Happy Mardi Gras! To add to the celebrations of the apparent arrival of Spring, here is a fresh set of “Articles of Interest” for the start of March.
In Newsweek’s cover article, Sharon Begley addresses “brain freeze,” the “Twitterization of our culture,” and how the deluge of information paralyzes our ability to make good decisions in the topical article I Can’t Think.
In the ever-focusing world of web-searches, Steve Lohr’s article Google Schools Its Algorithm traces the ever-sharpening science of honing the accuracy of search engines. In this case, the recent success by IBM’s Watson in the Jeopardy challenge reveals the increasing power of computers to comprehend the nuances of human expression; a brave new world, indeed!
In the great world-sport of Cricket, the 2011 ICC World Cup is now well under way. Sunday’s New York Times has a great article covering Ireland’s underdog victory over England, seen through the eyes of undergraduate students at N.Y.U. Polytech. The final match of the Cricket World Cup will be played Saturday, 2 April in Mumbai, India.
From the sardonic world of art, Sunday’s New York Times also carries a great story about the illustrations, etchings, and stories of Edward Gorey. In the article Nightshade is Growing Like Weeds, Mark Dery traces the lasting influences of Gorey, who died back in 2000.
And to conclude this edition, MVS Alum Danny Beaty is generously referred to in last weekend’s Wall Street Journal article, titled Headed Uptown for a Harlem Renaissance.
Happy reading,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
Greetings Upper School Parents:
Happy Mardi Gras! To add to the celebrations of the apparent arrival of Spring, here is a fresh set of “Articles of Interest” for the start of March.
In Newsweek’s cover article, Sharon Begley addresses “brain freeze,” the “Twitterization of our culture,” and how the deluge of information paralyzes our ability to make good decisions in the topical article I Can’t Think.
In the ever-focusing world of web-searches, Steve Lohr’s article Google Schools Its Algorithm traces the ever-sharpening science of honing the accuracy of search engines. In this case, the recent success by IBM’s Watson in the Jeopardy challenge reveals the increasing power of computers to comprehend the nuances of human expression; a brave new world, indeed!
In the great world-sport of Cricket, the 2011 ICC World Cup is now well under way. Sunday’s New York Times has a great article covering Ireland’s underdog victory over England, seen through the eyes of undergraduate students at N.Y.U. Polytech. The final match of the Cricket World Cup will be played Saturday, 2 April in Mumbai, India.
From the sardonic world of art, Sunday’s New York Times also carries a great story about the illustrations, etchings, and stories of Edward Gorey. In the article Nightshade is Growing Like Weeds, Mark Dery traces the lasting influences of Gorey, who died back in 2000.
And to conclude this edition, MVS Alum Danny Beaty is generously referred to in last weekend’s Wall Street Journal article, titled Headed Uptown for a Harlem Renaissance.
Happy reading,
Sam Wagner
Head of Upper School
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